The Mahindra Scorpio is a four-wheel drive compact SUV manufactured by Mahindra & Mahindra Limited (M&M), the flagship company of the IndianMahindra Group. It was the first SUV from the company built for a global market. The Scorpio has been successfully accepted in international markets across the globe, and will shortly be launched in the United States.[3]

The Scorpio was conceptualized and designed by the in-house integrated design and manufacturing team of M&M. The car has been the recipient of three prestigious Indian awards: the "Car of the Year" award from Business Standard Motoring as well as the "Best SUV of the Year" and the "Best Car of the Year" awards, both from BBC WorldWheels.[4]

Prior to the mid-1990s, Mahindra & Mahindra was an automobile assembly company. The company manufactured WillysJeeps and its minor modified versions, with modifications carried out in India. In 1996, the company planned to enter the SUV segment with a new product which could compete globally. Since M&M did not have the technical knowhow to handle such an ambitious product, they devised an entirely new concept among Indian auto companies. Roping in new executives who had worked in the auto industry in western countries, such as Pawan Goenka and Alan Durante, the company broke the rule that says automakers must design, engineer and test their own vehicles while spending millions of dollars in the process.

The new Mahindra Scorpio SUV had all of its major systems designed directly by suppliers, with the only inputs from Mahindra being design, performance specifications and program cost. The design and engineering of the systems were carried out by suppliers, as well as testing, validation and materials selection. Sourcing and engineering locations were also chosen by suppliers. The parts were later assembled in a Mahindra plant under the Mahindra badge, being a well-known brand in India. Using this method, the company was able to build from scratch a new vehicle with virtually 100 percent supplier involvement from concept to reality, at a cost of Rs 600 crore ($120 million),[5] including improvements to the plant. The project took five years to move from concept to final product. The cost was estimated in 2002 to be Rs 550 crore.[6]

The Mahindra Scorpio was launched in India in 2002. Soon after the success of the Scorpio, Mahindra launched an upgraded Scorpio with plush seats and rear centre arm rest, dual tone exterior colour and various minor changes.

In April 2006, the company launched an upgraded Scorpio, dubbing it the 'All-New' Scorpio.

At the Auto Expo 2006 in Delhi, Mahindra also showcased their future plans on the Scorpio model by showcasing a hybrid Scorpio with CRDe engine and a Scorpio based on a pickup truck . The hybrid, the first such vehicle developed in India, was developed by Arun Jaura, a former employee of Ford. His senior, Pawan Goenka, a former engineer at GM, heads Mahindra's automotive division and oversees the Scorpio project.

The upgraded Mahindra Scorpio Getaway, launched in Australia in mid-2009, received additional safety features to the Indian model such as ABS brakes and airbags in an attempt to raise its rating to a minimum of 3 stars from the current 2 star ANCAP rating. The 2012 model scored 6.6 points out of a possible 16, giving it a 3-star ANCAP rating.[7]

A face lifted version of the Scorpio was launched on 26th September, 2014 with redesigned front and rear fascias and a new dashboard. [9] A revised automatic variant of the SUV is expected in 2015.[10]

The mHawk Diesel engine holds a capacity of 2.2 L with 4 cylinders that delivers 120hp. The mHawk employs a top-mounted intercooler to improve turbocharger efficiency. The engine is based on the Bosch Common Rail system with solenoid injectors and fuel spray design that improves fuel efficiency. The mHawk is equipped with a two chain drive stage system and hydraulic lash adjusters.

Mahindra has for a while had plans on exporting to the United States, possibly with a diesel-electric hybrid.[12] In 2006, it entered into an agreement with Global Vehicles USA to import and distribute Mahindra vehicles.[13] It originally planned to release a modified pick-up version of the Scorpio, named Appalachia,[14] in the United States by the end of 2009,[15] but legal problems have pushed back its entry into the U.S. market. This vehicle is projected to cost in the low $20,000s.

Mahindra Scorpio S4 : This is the base model with many advanced features such as mHawk engine, digital immobilizer, collapsible steering column, crash protection crumple zone, illuminated spoiler, sporty bonnet scoop and tubeless tyres. In November 2011, a 4WD version was introduced in the S2 trim.

Mahindra Scorpio Getaway : This variant is powered by the 2.6L, 2609cc, diesel engine. It satisfies only BS III emission norms, so it is not available in metro cities. Also it does not get the new generation scorpio looks.